ACS Hosts Visit to Ninth Circuit

First-year law students visited the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco in March.

Sponsored by USF’s American Constitution Society (ACS) student chapter, attendees toured the historic courthouse, sat in on oral arguments, and talked with judges and clerks.

Judge John Wallace, who served as the court’s chief judge from 1991 to 1996, spoke about his legal experience and advised students on how to become successful in oral advocacy and as students of the law.

Robert Sansone 1L, the ACS student representative for the event, said it was a great learning experience because it distinguished appellate arguments from trial court arguments. First-year students will prepare their own appellate briefs and arguments for Moot Court in April.

Chris Lunsford, a first-year student who attended the event, noted the practical application of seeing the court in action.

“This was a great opportunity to see the real decision-making process in the Ninth Circuit. It is great to see how oral advocacy plays a fundamental role in the court process,” he said.

The ACS student chapter has hosted annual trips to the court for three years.